A classic American concession was first fried in Oregon: the corn dog

You see them at festivals and fairs across the country. At sporting events. At concession stands for any occasion, really. They’re an American classic — corn dogs. And it may surprise you that the beloved fried food on a stick was invented at the Oregon Coast.

Along Highway 101 in Rockaway Beach, an offbeat roadside attraction can’t be missed. Drivers likely do a double-take at the sight of a giant corn dog on the roof. It’s a massive fiberglass corn dog. A Pronto Pup, to be exact.

“To my knowledge, the history of the Pronto Pup was created in Rockaway in the late 1930s, early ‘40s, a little closer to town,” said Diane Langer, who bought the modern-day Original Pronto Pup with her husband in late 2021.